Autographic manifolding machine



Dec.- 27, 1932.

l..l R. HAN-NA AUTOGRAPHIC MANIFOLDING MACHINE OP LII-IOP: I

seoiz mvemToR, Luher RQHanna,

Dec. 27, 1932. R. HANNA 1,892,550

AUTOGRAPHIC MANIFoL-DING MACHINE Filed Sept, l2. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, L, R, HANNAA AUTOGRAPHIG MANIFOLDINQ MACHINE Filed Sept. l2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PQ u.

mi ou Patented' Dec. 27, `1932 UNITED sTATEs LUTHER n. HANNA, oF'INDuNAroLIs, INDIANA AUTOGRAPHIC MANIFOLDING MACHINE Application led September 12, 1932. Serial No. 632,661.

This invention relates to autographic manifolding devices and has for one of its primary objects the provision of means for shifting sets of-'copies from a position to be written upon to positions permitting the copies to be removed without having to employ feed rollers or the like heretofore customarily used.

A further important object of theinvention is to `provide stationary pin members over which a set of copies may be engaged during the writing operation whereby the copiesare maintained in a rigid non-shifting position while they are being written upon.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide means for retaining one of a number of copies in each set in such a manner that the retained copiesmay be held from view under lock and will be placed in a folded condition.

Other objects and advantages such as the for-ming of a very simple mechanism capable of being produced at a relatively low cost, ease and simplicity of operation, and reliability under severe operating conditions, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of the invention which is shown in one particular form in the accompanying drawings,'in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top -plan view of a structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section through the structure on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

A Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section through the structure on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a detail in vertical longitudinal section on a slightly enlarged scale showing a safety pin at the end of its rearward travel;

Fi 5, a vertical longitudinalsection similar to Fig. 4 but showing the pin at the endv ofv its extreme forward travel;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary side elevation of th'e structure; I

Fig. 7, a fragmentary rear end elevation, and

Fig. 8, a detail in rear endpelevation on a slightly enlarged scale showing the carbon paper position in the device. Like characters of reference indicate like downwardly a distance from the top edges parts throughout the several views in the drawings. i

I form a box-like housing 10 entirely open at the front .and back ends and-also open across its top. In other words the housing 10 55 .is formed to have a fioor 11 and the two side walls 12 and 13. Spaced upwardly from the floor 11 guides 14 and 15 are fixed respectively to the side walls 12 and 13 to extend hori- Ywalls to at least past the center of the walls.

Slides 16 and 17 are slidably retained within the'guides 14 and 15 respectively so as to be sh-iftable longitudinally therealong. The slides 16 and 17 each has a length substan- 65 tially equal to that of thesides 12 and 13 whereby the slides will'norinally extend forwardly from the guides..- 1

A carriage 18 here shown as being substantially a rectangular box-like structure is carried by the sldes 16 and 17 by means of posts- 19, 20 extending laterally from the sides of. the carriage to engage the slides. This carriage 18 is open from both the front and rear ends and carries a top 'platform 21 spaced 75 of the sides 12 and 13 of the housing l0. The width of the carriage 18 is less than the distance between the side walls 12 and 13, the carriage being here shown, Fig. 7, as being located to have its longitudinal center line somewhat to the left of the corresponding center line of the housing 10.

A carbon paper housing is formed along the right side of the carriage 18 by extend- 85 ing a floor 22 horizontally from the side and then carrying a wall 23 vertically upward so as to provide space between this wall and the side of the carriage within which brackets 24, 25 may be located so as to carry a spool 26 revolubly therebetween to have the spool axis horizont-ally disposed. The top end ofthe wall 23 terminates just below the level ofthe top edge of the housingl side 13 and has hinged thereto a carriage .cover 27. At the 95 rear end of the 'carriage v18 are a pair of lingers 28 and 29 fixed to the respective sides of the carriage and turned inwardly toward each other to be spaced upwardly a slight distance from the platform 21. The cover 27 100 normally rests on these inturned fingers to .be spaced thereby above the platform 21.

rthe forward end of the cover 27, a handle 31 is mounted transversely thereacross as a means for shifting the carriage longitudinally of the housing 10. At the left frontcorner of the cover 27 is a spring latch 32 fixed to the downturned apron about the cover 27 to extend forwardly to have a pin 33, see Fig. 1, normally entered through a hole in the side of the carriage 18 whereby the cover 27 is releasably held in the closed position, the latch 32 being formed of spring material so that it may be pushed outwardly to withdraw the pin 33 from engagement through the carriage wall. The carriage has a length sufliciently great to receive therein a drawer 34 fromthe rear end. This drawer 34 is formed to have a rear end sufficiently large to cover over the back opening into the carriage 18 and extends upwardly to be engaged under the downturned apron 35 across the back end of the cover 27. The drawer may be withdrawn from the carriage by raising the cover 27 as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 7.

The housing 10 is provided with a transverse partition 36 located sufficiently forward within the housing as to permit the carriage 18 to be fully received within the housing. A latch 37 is `fixed to the partition 36 to extend rearwardly so as to engage over the inwardly and rearwardly turned ear 38 on the carriage 18, Fig. 1, when the carriage is moved forwardly to its forward limit of travel. By reason of this latch 37', the carriage 18 can not fall out of the housing 10 should the front end of the housing be lifted. In order to release the carriage so as to permit backward movement thereof, I provide a lever 39 rockably attached to the side 12 of the housing and carry this lever upwardly to have it extend a slight distance above the top of the side. On thislever I fix an inturned leg 40 which is directed toward the side of the latch 37 and has its end in the path of a cam 41 on the latch so that by pushing the lever 39 forwardly the leg 40 will bear against the y cam 41 and thus press the latch 37 inwardly and out of engagement with the ear 38. The' latch 37 being made out of spring material will tend to return the lever 39 to its normal rear position by reason of the inclination of the cam 41 tending to urge the leg 40 rearwardly under the pressure of the latch.

A rack 42 is fixed along the side 12 above the guide 14 to be immediately under a pair of dogs 43, 44 which are rockably mounted on a block 45 fixed to the side of the carriage 18. These dogs 43 and 44 normally drop under the influence of gravity to have their outer ends engage between the teeth of the rack 42 which would ordinarily prevent movement of the carriage in either direction. In order to obtain selective movement of the carriage, the block 45 is fitted with a longitudinally slidable bar 46, Fig. 6, which has an outturned pin 47 extending through the block to between the dogs 43 and 44. By selectively shifting the bar 46 forwardly and rearwardly, the respective dogs may be lifted from engagement with the rack so as to permit movement of the carriage in either direction depending upon which dog is lifted. A stop 48 is fixed on the lever 39 to be inthe path of the bar 46 so that when the carriage 18 is shifted to its forward limit of travel, the bar 46 has been pushed rearwardly, upon striking this stop so as to lift the dog 44 and allow the dog 43 to drop against the rack. In this position of the bar 46, the carriage 18 upon being released from the latch 37, may be carried rearwardly since the dog 43 having a forwardly directed rack contacting end will merely drag over the rack and the rear dog 44 is held clear of the rack. At the desired rear limit oftravel of the carriage 18, a stop 48 is fixed to the inner side of the wall 12 to be in the path of the bar 46 soV that -when the bar 46 is pressed against the stop it is shifted forwardly to drop the dog 44 against the rack 42 and the other Adog 43 is lifted clear ofthe rack. This arrangement of the dogs 43 and 44 and the rack 42 is provided so that once the carriage 18 is started from either the forward or rear limits of travel, the carriage must be carried on to the opposite limit and can not be reversed in its direction of travel between those two limits. An adjustable stop 49 is fixed to the floor 11 of the housing 10 to be in the path of an arm 50 extending from the carriage 18 s o'as to positively limit the rearward travel of the carriage, the adjustment being provided to obtain the exact location of this limit.

A plate 51 has its forward end fixed to the partition 36 to extend horizontally rearwardly therefrom to within the carriage 18 and compressively against 'the under side ofthe platform 21. The platform 21 is provided with two laterally spaced apart holes toward its rear end through which springs 52, 53 extend to bear normally against the under side of the cover 27. Longitudinal slots 54, 55 are cut in from the rear end of the plate 51 to permit the 'springs 52, 53 to enter therewithin without hindrance so that the carriage 18 may be shifted forwardly without interference thereby. Toward the forward end of the plate 51, I mount two transverselyy spaced apart pins 56 and 57 to rigidly extend above the plate 51 for a slight distance and fix guides 58 and 59 to rise above the plate 51 and extend over the tops of the pins to terminate with forwardly extending ends to form hooks in front of and above the pins.

One pin or more than two may be used. Under the handle 31 and above the cover 27 is rockably mounted a plate 60 to have forwardly turned arms 6l and 62 which are spaced apart to center with the pins 56 and 57 respectively. Against the under sides of these arms are mounted respectively safety pins 63 normally tending to pull the plate 60 downwardly by its forward side'under the infiuence of gravity and being further urged downwardly by means of a light spring 64 under the rear side of the plate. The forward end of the platform 21 is notched out to permit these pins 63 to drop against the plate 51. The pins 63 are each notched across its under side to provide a slot sufficiently wide such that when the carriage 18 is moved forwardly, the pins 63 may ride over the guides 58 and 59, the guides entering the slots in the under sides of the pins. A pair of fingers 65, 66 are fixed against the underside of the cover 27 to extend forwardly one on each side ofthe respective pins 63, the forward ends of these fingers terminating somewhat 1hack of the front sides of the pins 63.

A plate 67 is fixed across the to edges of the sides 12 and 13 forwardly o the pins 56. 57 and carries a rear turned apron 68 which slopes downwardly toward the plate 51 to terminate by its rear lower edge at about the level of the top ends of the pins 56, 57. A tongue 69 extends on down and rearwardly centrally between the pins 56, 57 to terminate centrally between the pins and with sufficient clearance between it andthe plate 51 to permit the passage of a sheet of paper therebetween, the rear point of the tongue being at a lower elevation than the top ends of the pins 56, 57. A housing cover 70 is provided with downturned edges to fit over the sides 12 and 13 and is rockably attached to the sides by the screws 71 and 72 under the plate 67 so that the cover may be lifted from the rear end as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 6. This cover 70 is provided with an elongated window in its top side through which the handle 31 extends. The window in this cover 7 0 is-of. sufficient length to permit the carriage 18 to travel the full distance between the front and rear limits. The front end of the window is notched out to give clearance for the vertical travel of the pins 63 and -their supporting arms. The forward portion of the housing 10 in front of the plate 67 is provided with a cover 73 which is hinged by its rear end to the .side walls to drop downwardly and forwardly to have an apron extend along the side of the walls 12 and 13 and also across the front side therebetween. The top side of the cover 7 3 is made to be flush with the plate 67 so as to leave no offset or projection at the juncture therebetween. A drawer 74 is slidably entered within the front end of the housing 10 between false walls 75 and 76 so as to retain the drawer centrally in line with the drawer 34 carried in the carriage 18. The forward end of the drawer extends upwardly to engage under the apron carried by the cover 73 and a lock` 77 is provided to maintain the cover 73 in a closed position thereby preventing the with# drawal of the drawer 74. The partition 36 is provided with slots at each end through which the slides 16 and 17 may pass freely when the carriage 18 is shifted to its forward position, the slides being suiiciently long so as to have sufficient bearing length within the guides to prevent the downward tilting of the carriage 18 when it is shifted to its rear position and its major portion extends outwardly beyond the housing 10.

A short table 78 extends horizontally forward from the top of the partition 36 for a short distance and has a downturned lip 79 across its forward edge. vThis table 78 isat the same elevation or slightly above that of the plate 51 which extends lrearwardly from the other side of the partition. A tongue 80 is fixed to the under side of the cover 73 above.

the forward part of the table 78 and is curved around downwardly and forwardl to extend well below as well as forwardly o the lip 79. I The structure above described is intended to use forms superposed one over the other, perforated betweenA the ends of the forms and folded in a zig-zig manner to form a flat 4 pack. Also each set of forms is provided with transverselv spaced apart punch holes' as are customarily employed for filing purposes. Referring to the drawings, a pack 81 having the above defined characteristics, is placed in the drawer 34 within the carriage 18 and the superposed plies of forms are brought around from the pack over the rear edge of the platform21, this edge being prefioe erably rolled to aid the paper in slipping therearound. The superposed forms, here shown as three in number, are brought forwardly over the platform 21 across the springs 52 and 53 to be engaged over the pins 56 and 57 through the punch holes provided in the forms. In thus placing the forms over the' platform 21, thehousing cover 70v is rocked around forwardly to be out of the way and the carriage cover 27 is rocked around l shown as two 1n number, are carried on the spool 26 and are threaded between the first and second plies of forms as indicated in Fig. 8 to have the carbon sheets carried on across to extend somewhat beyond the other side of .laterally so that the paper may be carried the platform 21 so that when the cover 27 is dropped into its closed position, pins 84 may engage the projecting ends of the carbon sheets to prevent the sheets from slipping back from between the forms.

By reason of the inherent nature of the zig-zag form of pack, the individual forms are held in alignment by reason of the folds of the different plies nesting one Within the other so that the forms as brought around onto the top side -of the platform 21 are in register. 'lhe under or lower ply of the forms has its forward end inserted to under the tongue 69 while the upper two plies are placed on top of the apron 68. lVhile reference is made to the pack as being formed to have three plies, it is obvious that less or more plies may be used as desired depending upon the number of copies desired. The pack Yith the threeplies is here shown as but one example of forms-which may be used. In the view as shown in Fig. 1, the forms are shown as having been placed ready for the machin-e to be operated. In order to place the carriage 18 in the proper position to permit writing on the form, the handle 31 is grasped and pulled rearwardly with the safety pins 63 sliding back overthe forms. The handle 31 is carried rearwardly until the carriage strikes the stop 49 at which position the handle 3l is at the rear end of the window in the cover 70 at which position, the pins 63 drop into the holes 85 of the next adjacent set of forms as shown in Fig. 4 where it is to be seen that the diameter of the pin 63 is much less than that of the holes 85 so that the pins are in reality out of contact with the periphery of the holes in thc forms. The forms over the platform 21 are spring pressed against the cover 2T by the springs and 53 so that as the carriage 18 is carried forwardly by pushing on the handle 31 the forms are carried along with the carriage to cause the forms to be disengaged from the pins 56 and 5T b v reason of the forward set of forms being pushed forwardly and having the front ends thereof lifted by reason of the guides 58 and 59 extending up over the pins. The upper two forms will thus be carried on out up over the apron 68 while the under form is carried under the apron forwardly over the table 78 to strike the tongue 8O to be de.- lected downwardly towa `d the front end of the drawer 74. The carriage 18 is moved forwardlv until the handle 31 is at the extreme forward end of the window in the cover 7() at which point the carriage is held by reason Vof the latch 37 as above described.- In this position the form 86 has been advanced forvardly to have the holes 85 brought up over the pins 56 and 5T and the other set of forms have been carried completely ahead of the front end of the cover 70 so that the upper two forms may then be torn off with the forward edge of the cover serving as a knife to facilitate the tearing of the forms across the perforated lines. In order to have the pins 56 and 57l extend through the holes 85 in the forms thus brought up thereto, the fingers and 66 are provided to direct the forms and press them downwardly about the pins as the holes 85 are brought to register thereover so that the top side of the top form 86 is then held down so that the forms become engaged under the forward hooked ends of the guides 58 and 59 so that backward movement of the forms is prevented. When the pins 63 strike the guides 58 and 59 as the form 86 is advanced, the pins are lifted by riding up over these guides so as to clear the edges of the holes After the form has been filled in as desired, it and its under copies may then he removed by the operator upon grasping the handle El by the right hand and pressing the lever 89 forwardly by the thumb to release the carriage from the latch 37. The carriage is then pulled rearwardly in order to position another set of forms over the platform 2l from the pack 81, the pins 56 and 5T holding the forms against rear travel so that the springs 52 and 53 may slide back under the forms to get a new grip on the next set of forms thus brought around on the top of the platform 21. As soon as the handle Sl has reached its rear limit of travel it is then shifted forwardly again to the forward limit of travel advancing the forms then written upon forwardly of the cover 70. The pins 63 upon the rear movement of the carriage slide back on top of the forms since they had been lifted out of the holes 85 by reason of the elevation of the guides 58 and 55). 'he pins 63 do not function to aid in any way the feeding of the forms forwardly. '.l`hey are provided merely as a safety device for such an emergency as when the forms coming from out under the cover become caught or held in some manner which would overcome the frictional resistance of the forms between the springs 52 and 53 and the under side of the cover 2T. In such an event,

the pins 63 being in the holes 85 will advance to the forward sides thereof and positively' hold the forms from slipping back any further over the platform 21 and thus maintain the forms in their own relative positions on the platform as well as in register one with the other. As above indicated the springs 52 and 53 frictionally hold the superposed strips of forms in place over the platform 2l. Inaddition to the friction grip by these springs, there is the friction set up by the ca1' bon sheets interleaved between the strips which in itself would ordinarily be sufficient to retain the forms without slipping over the platform 21. The carbon sheets are slipped back between the strips from the set of forms engaged over the pins 56 and 57 to the next set of forms when the carriage 18 is pulled back rearwardly. In this way the frictional resistance between the carbon sheets and the strips is overcome while the strips remain engaged over the pins so that the changing of the carbon sheets does not pull the forms out of register. `Astop 90 is provided to extend upwardly from the floor 11 to positively llmit the forward travel of the carriage, the stop being located in any suitable position to be in the path of the carriage 18 or some member connected therewith, here shown, as being in the path of the arm 50 which is employed to strike the back stop 49.

It is the usual custom where three superposed strips of forms are used to keep one strip of forms for a record of the days transactions. This record strip is the one which is on the under side of the .three strips and is next to the platform 21 and is also the one which feeds forwardly under the tongue 694 to pass. over the table 78 and around under the tongue 80 to within the drawer 74 where it is maintained in a concealed manner proof against alterations. The relation between the table 78 and tongue 8O is such that when the perforated line across the end of one form 'reaches the outer vertical end of the drawer 74 as indicated in Fig. 2, that form 87 will then drop around rearwardly under the influence of gravity about that perforated line as a hinge joint when the next attached form is advanced over the table 78 to have the uper end of that form 87 along its perforated line to drop downwardly as indicated by the dash lines to have its fold line 88 drop to allow the form 87 then to spring downwardly and backwardly as in the shape indicated by the dash line 89 so that the forms thus advanced to within the drawer 74 will assume ,their original zig-zag shape to build up a pad in single strip form. The shape of the l" p 79 along the table 78 and the curvature of the tongue 80 are properly formed to aid and direct the forms to allow them to fold back and forth within the drawer 74. Also to aidr this folding, a false ioor`91 is placed in the for-- ward end of the drawer 74 to form an inclination so that the rear folds will be lower than the forward folds in order to insure the proper folding of the forms.

' While I have here shown and described my invention in the one particular form as now best known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

1. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having` means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of formsron the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the plat-w form, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends` from said pins permitting said set-of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage.

2. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a, carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a `plurality of superposed strips of-paper provided with forms arranged 1n sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and soarranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have.

their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and means carried by the carriage gripping said set of forms on said platform to retain them against longitudinal displacement.

3. In an autographic manifolding ma# chine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end tliereof to receive one set of lforms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends land hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and means carried by the carrlage gripping said set of forms on said platform to retain them aga-inst longitudinal disnlacement,said means comprising springs yieldingly forcing said strips one against the other. i

-4. In an autographic manifolding machine, a form engaging means comprising a fixedl vertical pin. and a guide sloping up from the back of the pin to at least the same elevation as the top of the pin.

5. In an autographic manifolding machine, a form engaging means comprising a fixed vertical pin. and a guide sloping up from the back of the pin to at least the same elevation as lthe top of the pin, 'and a projection extending forwardly from the pin forming a hook therewith. L

6. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one-set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to en age said forward form ends and hold t Vem a amst rearward movement when the carrlage is moved rearwardly, and means liftlng said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said. pins upon forward movement of the carnage, and forwardly directed fingers carr1er by the carriage over said forms arranged topass along a side of said pins and press sald forms down over said pins.

7. In an autographic manifolding ma-` chine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed `strlps of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage formmg a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when` the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, a latch engaging said carriage at its forward end of travel, and a lever extending from the housing shifting said catch from engagement upon forward rocking.

8. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the' carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said setof forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage,

means preventing reverse travel of said carriage between its front and rear end of travel during movement in one direction, and shifting means operating said reverse preventing means to permit return movement of the carriage. Y

9. 1n an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried bythe housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, means preventing reverse travel ,of said carnage between its front and rear end of travel during movement in one direction, and shifting means operating said reverse preventing means" to permit return movement of the carriage, said reverse means comprising a rack fixed to the housing, a pair of oppositely turned dogs pivoted to the carriage and normally dropping against said rack, a shiftable bar having a pin extending to between the dogs, and said shifting means comprising a stop at each end of travel of the carri in the path of said bar whereby one dog 1s dropped and the other dog is.

raised at each end of travel.

10. In I an autographic manifolding machine, a su porting housing, a carriage movable lengtliwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper rovided with forms arranged in sets2 a p at orm on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to 'receive one set of said forms thereover to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly ofthe carriage ada ted to have saidl form forward ends impale thereon and hold the forms against rearward movement when the carriage' is moved rearwardly, and forwardly extending fingers carried by the carriage located to pass along a side of said pins upon forward travel of the carriage to press said forms down over the pins.

11. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a lurality of superposed strips of paper provi ed with forms arranged in sets, a platform-on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set lof said forms thereover to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to have said form forward ends impaled thereon and hold the forms against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and

.forwardly extending fingers .carried by the carriage located to pass along a side of said pins upon forward travel of the carriage to press said forms down over the pins, and guides sloping from the rear up over said pins to lift said forms by their sliding thereover upon forward return travel following a back movement of the carriage.

12. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table andso arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of said forms thereover to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing f'orwardly of the carriage adapted to have said 'form forward ends impaled thereon andv hold the forms against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and forwardly extending fingers carried bythe carriage located to pass along a side of said pins upon forward travel of the carriage -to press said forms down over the pins, and guides sloping from the rear up over said pins to lift said forms by their sliding thereover upon forward return travel following a back movement of the carriage, and hooks extending forwardly from said pins preventing disengagement of the forms therefrom upon withdrawal of said-fingers with the carriage.

13. In an autographic manifolding' machine, a supporting housing, a carriagemovable lengthwise of the housing and ha'ving means to support a plurality-of superposed led to engage said forward form ends and strips of paper provided with forms` arranged in sets. a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may beA led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the. front of the platform, fixed-.pins carried by the housing vforwardly of tlie'carriage adapthold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and-means lifting said ends from said pins peri-nitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage. an apron carried by the housing forwardly of and sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward said pins, and a tongue extending from the apron to between and somewhat below the top of the pins, said apron deflecting the upper of said strips upwardly, and said tongue deflecting4 the lower strips to under the apron.

14. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing', a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having 'means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereofto receive one set of said forms thereover to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to have said form forward ends impaled thereon and hold theforms against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and forwardly extending` fingers carried by the carriage located to pass along a side of said pins upon forward travel of the carriage to press said forms down overV the pins, and guides sloping from the rear u over said pins to lift said forms by their sli ing thereover upon forward return -travel following a back movement of the carriage, an apron carried by the housing forwardly of and sloping downwardly and rearwardly ltoward said pins, and a tongue extending ranged in sets, a platform on the carriage formln a writing tableand so arranged that said strips ma)7 be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the .platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted'to engage said forward form ends and hold them "against rearward movement when the carriage ismoved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, a form-receiving compartment in the front end ofthe housing, andform folding means comprisinga short platform overwhch one of said strips is directed, and a forwardly and downwardly turnedtongue spaced forwardly of the platform..

16. In an autographic malifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and having means to support a rplurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a rplatform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the latform to have their forward ends at the ront of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them agalnst rearward movement when the 4lifting said ends from said carriage 1s moved rearwardly, and means pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, a form receivingcompartment in the front end f the housing, and form folding means comprising a short platform over which one of said strips is directed, and a. forwardly and downwardly turned tongue spaced forwardly of the platform, said compartment having a length substantially that of each set of forms, and having a fioor sloping upwardly and forwardly.

17. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housir g and havlng means to support a plurality of superposed strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and-so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the -platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and safety pins carried by the carriagenormally dropping against said forms adapted to engage therewith upon relative backward movement ofthe forms on said platform.

18. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and havin means to support a lurality of superpose strips of paper provi ed with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and safety pins carried by the carriage normally dropping against said forms adapted to engage t erewith upon relative backward movement of the forms on said platform, said pins being spaced apart to be in the paths of said fixed pins to be lifted from engagement from the forms by said fixed pins in passing thereover.

19. In an autographic manifolding machine, a supporting housing, a carriage movable lengthwise of the housing and havin means to support a plurality of superpose strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strlps may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one setof forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform fixed pins carried by the housing orwardly of the carriage adapted to engage said forward form ends and hold them against rearward movement when the carriage is lnoved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and safety pins carried by the carriage normally dropping against said forms adapted to engage therewith upon relative backward movement of the forms on said platform, said pins being spaced apart to be in the paths of said fixed pins to be lifted from engagement from the forms by said fixed pins in passing thereover, and guides back of said fixed pins over which said safety pins may ride to be raised above the fixed pins.

20. In an autographic manifolding -l'nachine, a supportin housing, a carriage ovable lengthwise of the housing and ha in means to support a plurality of superpose strips of paper provided with forms arranged in sets, a platform on the carriage forming a writing table and so arranged that said strips may be led over the rear end thereof to receive one set of forms on the platform to have their forward ends at the front of the platform, fixed pins carried by the housing forwardly of the carriage adapted to en age lsaid forward form ends and hold t emagainst rearward movement when the carriage is moved rearwardly, and means lifting said ends from said pins permitting said set of forms to be shifted forwardly beyond said pins upon forward movement of the carriage, and safety pins carried by the carriage normally dropping against said forms adapted to engage therewith upon relative backward movement of the forms on said platform, said pins being spaced apart to be in the paths of said fixed pins to be lifted from engagement from the forms by said fixed pins in passing thereover, and guides back of said fixed pins over which said safety pins may ride to be raised above the fixed pins, said .safety pins having longitudinal slots across their under sides to slidably engage over said guides whereby sad forms are depressed to be below the tops of said guides. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LUTHER B. HANNA. 

